Adhesives help hold packaging materials together, including food and beverage bottles. They are used to make packaging more sustainable, while also protecting the food supply. For instance, specialized adhesives are used to create thinner plastic beverage bottles. This makes labeling and applying them easier, while protecting the quality of the product and the customer’s brand.
Henkel’s EasyD4R(r) software tool
The software is available to everyone and can be used to assess the recyclability of packaging and product materials. It is developed by Henkel, a German company that makes consumer goods. It is publicly available on the Henkel website.
It uses an evaluation system known as a traffic light system to help companies determine whether their packaging is recyclable or not. It also assesses whether the packaging is suitable for sorting and processing during recycling. In the software, the recyclability of the packaging and its components is shown as a percentage. It also highlights material combinations that can be optimised for recycling.
Moreover, Henkel is also working to replace non-recyclable packaging with more sustainable alternatives. The company is working with Borealis to develop a mono-material pouch that is recycling compatible and has up to 35 percent post-consumer recyclate content. In addition, it has teamed up with Sustainable Packaging Coalition and Alliance to End Plastic Waste. To make a difference, companies from all stages of the value chain need to collaborate to reduce plastic waste.
Henkel’s glue-based alternative to shrink-wrap plastic
Henkel, a global leader in adhesives, is making a push to minimize the environmental impact of its products. It is also making an effort to increase consumer awareness about recycling and responsible usage of its products. The company has set ambitious goals to help cut plastic waste by 2025, and is investing in innovative solutions and technologies that encourage closed-loop recycling.
Henkel is also making strides to reduce plastic waste by developing an alternative to bubble mailers. These bubbles protect goods while in the mail, but they also mix plastic and paper, interfering with the recycling of each. In Henkel’s solution, bubble plastic is replaced by cushioning technology that protects goods while still being recyclable.
Another way to reduce plastic waste is to find an alternative to shrink-wrap plastic. A glue-based alternative could reduce the need for plastic film and reduce plastic waste. Instead of using plastic films, the adhesive will be placed on the packaging itself. It will stick to other boxes on a pallet, eliminating the need for plastic shrink wrap. This innovation could save thousands of tonnes of plastic wrapping. Henkel has also created a glue-based cardboard alternative called KeelClip, which is designed to hold multipacks of cans together. The company developed this product in partnership with Graphic Packaging International.
Henkel’s goal is to make all of its packaging 100% recyclable by 2025. Already, the company has an 85% recycling rate. The company is also working on solving specific recycling barriers within each packaging category. For instance, it has introduced solutions for black packaging and multi-layer flexible packaging. The company also works closely with cross-industry partners, including the CEFLEX consortium of 130 companies.
3M’s commitment to make packaging recyclable
3M is committed to reducing its carbon footprint by making packaging recyclable. By 2025, it plans to use 125 million fewer pounds of new petroleum-based plastic per year. The company will achieve this goal by increasing its use of recycled plastic and bio-based plastics, as well as by reducing the use of plastics altogether.
The commitment extends to its products as well. The company has more than 1,000 new products on the market each year, and one-third of its revenue comes from products released in the past five years. As a result, the sustainability initiative could affect a large portion of the products it introduces in the coming decades.
In addition to its commitment to packaging recycling, 3M has also invested in recycling infrastructure. For instance, it has partnered with a number of organizations that develop plastic recycling facilities. The companies then buy the recycled plastic raw material from these downstream recyclers. These partnerships allow 3M to contribute to the sustainable growth of our planet.
